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Steve and Snot episodes are generally among American Dad's best, and "Mom Sauce" is no exception. The show lays out their dynamic early on, as we constantly see Snot having to turn to Steve for everything, from pencils to birthday parties. But then Snot mysteriously gets rich, and the real fun of the episode begins. The "poor person gets loaded" plotline is one that has appeared many times on sitcoms over the years, and whether it succeeds or fails generally depends on the show's depiction of said rich person. American Dad doesn't disappoint, as Snot jumps from buying his friends pizza to zooming around on a hoverboard. But despite the hoverboard, Snot remains grounded as a character, enjoying his new life but using it to enhance the lives of his friends around him. Steve is initially upset at the reversal of the power dynamic, and becomes furious when he discovers that Snot's mom stole Francine's recipe for dipping sauce. But just when you think you know where the show is going next, the episode throws in an abrupt left turn, as it turns out that Francine was just using store bought sauce, meaning Mrs. Lonstein actually stole from Newman's Own. Although what she did was immoral, Snot argues that his family needs this when Steve confronts him, and it's interesting that the episode gives each character legitimate beliefs. It's actually quite nuanced storytelling, a refreshing change from American Dad's usual fare.
That is until Steve decides to tip off Newman's Own, who arrest Mrs. Lonstein and force Snot into Child Protective Services. There's a ridiculously dumb scene as Steve and Francine attempt to adopt Snot, only for the adoption agent to just reveal that Steve is responsible for Snot's predicament. I guess he just knew that, somehow? Then said agent horns in on a married woman and an actual child, which is the kind of despicable humor that should be saved from Family Guy. At least the finale is fun, as Snot's mom teams up with Steve to escape Newman's Own Women's Own Prison, complete with homemade toilet wine. This main storyline, despite some woeful comedy and the strange second half, was still one of the strongest in months for AD. As I said, Steve and Snot episodes generally always deliver, and I personally enjoyed the hell out of this episode.
"Mom Sauce" also includes a totally ludicrous B-plot, as Stan, Roger and Jeff attempt to become mall models, complete with Klaus as their coach. It's obvious this quartet has absolutely no clue what they're doing, and before long, all four are completely emaciated. Roger has a tapeworm growing inside of him, Jeff uses some guy's face as a record player and Stan attempts to have sex with a motorcycle, so standard American Dad shenanigans. At the fashion show, all three collapse, at which point the tapeworm leaves Roger to become a Vogue centerpiece, which Klaus wanks off to. There may be some finer points I left out in there, but I got to all the good stuff. Comedy gold.
8/10
Despite some distasteful humor, "Mom Sauce" is a sterling edition of American Dad, one of the best of the last five month run. Now if you'll excuse me, I got to get me some of that wine.
Steve and Snot episodes are generally among American Dad's best, and "Mom Sauce" is no exception. The show lays out their dynamic early on, as we constantly see Snot having to turn to Steve for everything, from pencils to birthday parties. But then Snot mysteriously gets rich, and the real fun of the episode begins. The "poor person gets loaded" plotline is one that has appeared many times on sitcoms over the years, and whether it succeeds or fails generally depends on the show's depiction of said rich person. American Dad doesn't disappoint, as Snot jumps from buying his friends pizza to zooming around on a hoverboard. But despite the hoverboard, Snot remains grounded as a character, enjoying his new life but using it to enhance the lives of his friends around him. Steve is initially upset at the reversal of the power dynamic, and becomes furious when he discovers that Snot's mom stole Francine's recipe for dipping sauce. But just when you think you know where the show is going next, the episode throws in an abrupt left turn, as it turns out that Francine was just using store bought sauce, meaning Mrs. Lonstein actually stole from Newman's Own. Although what she did was immoral, Snot argues that his family needs this when Steve confronts him, and it's interesting that the episode gives each character legitimate beliefs. It's actually quite nuanced storytelling, a refreshing change from American Dad's usual fare.
That is until Steve decides to tip off Newman's Own, who arrest Mrs. Lonstein and force Snot into Child Protective Services. There's a ridiculously dumb scene as Steve and Francine attempt to adopt Snot, only for the adoption agent to just reveal that Steve is responsible for Snot's predicament. I guess he just knew that, somehow? Then said agent horns in on a married woman and an actual child, which is the kind of despicable humor that should be saved from Family Guy. At least the finale is fun, as Snot's mom teams up with Steve to escape Newman's Own Women's Own Prison, complete with homemade toilet wine. This main storyline, despite some woeful comedy and the strange second half, was still one of the strongest in months for AD. As I said, Steve and Snot episodes generally always deliver, and I personally enjoyed the hell out of this episode.
"Mom Sauce" also includes a totally ludicrous B-plot, as Stan, Roger and Jeff attempt to become mall models, complete with Klaus as their coach. It's obvious this quartet has absolutely no clue what they're doing, and before long, all four are completely emaciated. Roger has a tapeworm growing inside of him, Jeff uses some guy's face as a record player and Stan attempts to have sex with a motorcycle, so standard American Dad shenanigans. At the fashion show, all three collapse, at which point the tapeworm leaves Roger to become a Vogue centerpiece, which Klaus wanks off to. There may be some finer points I left out in there, but I got to all the good stuff. Comedy gold.
8/10
Despite some distasteful humor, "Mom Sauce" is a sterling edition of American Dad, one of the best of the last five month run. Now if you'll excuse me, I got to get me some of that wine.
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